Adjustable angle spindle

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for making possible an infinite variation in the adjustment angle of a spindle assembly makes possible a rapid changeover for testing the dynamic properties of elastomeric objects. In spindle assembly ( 10 ), wedge rings ( 18, 20 ) having wider portions ( 22, 22   a ) and narrower portions ( 24, 24   a ) interposed between a spindle ( 12 ) and an axle assembly ( 17 ), whereby the relative placement of the wider portions ( 22, 22   a ) and the narrower portions ( 24, 24   a ) determine the angle of the spindle ( 12 ) relative to axle assembly ( 17 ). Indicia ( 48, 48   a ) on the wedge rings ( 18, 20 ) make possible quick determination of the exact angle. Means ( 50, 50   a   , 67 ) may be provided to make easier rotation of the wedge rings ( 18, 20 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an adjustable spindle for rotating roundelastomeric objects. Specifically, the invention relates to changing thecamber angle of a spindle used for rotating tires.

BACKGROUND ART

In the automotive industry, some manufacturers design their vehicleshaving a suspension which provides a camber to the wheels that are usedon the vehicle. When developing tires for such vehicles, it is importantto test an experimental tire under conditions very similar to thoseencountered on a vehicle. Accordingly, spindles used for spinning tireson test equipment have been adapted to provide camber to a tire duringdynamic testing.

In prior art testing equipment, however, spindles providing a camberwere not adjustable and could be set up only at one angle. Conversion toa different angle was possible but involved dismantling the equipment tochange the angle. Even then, only a limited number of angles werepossible.

Vehicle manufacturers often experiment with different camber angles onvehicles, and a large variety of vehicles are being manufactured withcamber angle on the suspension systems, and it is important that tiresbe tested at the large number of camber angles which are used, or areconsidered experimentally.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustablespindle which makes possible the quick adjustment of the camber angle ofthe spindle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A spindle assembly (10) for rotating round objects comprises a spindle(12) and a spindle plate (14) attached to a back plate (16), the spindleplate (14) and back plate (16) having interposed there between at leasttwo wedge rings (18,20), wedge rings(18,20) having a wider portion(22,22 a) and a narrower portion (24,24 a). In the assembly, when anarrower portion (24) of wedge ring (18) is adjacent to wider portion(22 a) of wedge ring (20), an axis (26) of the spindle (12) is normal tothe plane (28) of the back plate (16). The assembly (10) is adapted tovary the angle of an axis (26) of the spindle (12) relative to a plane(28) of the back plate (16) by rotating said at least two wedge rings(18,20) relative to each other and to said back plate (16).

Washers (32) used with bolts (30), and nuts (34) on the bolts (30) havea portion of a sphere (54) to accommodate a plurality of angles.

The at least two wedge rings (18,20) are adapted to interlock with eachother circumferentially, permitting rotation relative to one anotherwhile maintaining their circumferential relationship to the back plate(16). The at least two wedge rings (18,20) each have an outside surface(40,40 a) corresponding to its outside diameter and an inside surface(41,41 a) corresponding to its inside diameter, and a back plate side(44,44 a) oriented toward the back plate (16) and a spindle plate side(46,46 a) oriented toward the spindle (12), and in the spindle assembly(10) in a wedge ring (18) closest to the back plate (16) the back plateside (44) forms a ninety degree (90°) angle with the outside surface(40), and in a wedge ring (20) closest to the spindle plate (14) thespindle plate side (46 a) forms a ninety degree angle with the outsidesurface (40 a).

The at least two wedge rings (18,20) are marked with indicia (48,48 a)whereby the angle of the axis (26) of the spindle (12) relative to aplane (28) of the back plate (16) can be determined by the indicia.

In one embodiment, the back plate (16) and spindle plate (14) areattached to each other by a plurality of bolts (30), and the at leasttwo interposed wedge rings (18,20) are free to rotate relative to thespindle plate (14) and the back plate (16) when the bolts (30) are nottightened. In a second embodiment, bearings (56) are interposed betweenspindle plate (14) and a wedge ring (20), and between wedge ring (20)and wedge ring (18), and between wedge ring (18) and back plate (16) anda pinion gear (67) is associated with the wedge rings (18,20) forrotating the wedge rings.

Also provided is a method for varying the camber angle of a spindle (12)having a spindle plate (14), comprising the steps of interposing atleast two wedge rings (18,20) between a spindle plate (14) and a backplate (16) in a spindle assembly (10), wherein at least two of the atleast two wedge rings (18,20) have a wider portion (22,22 a) and anarrower portion (24,24 a).

The method may comprise the further steps of (a) releasing tensionbetween a back plate (16) and a spindle plate (14) in a spindleassembly, and (b) rotating at least two of the at least two wedge rings(18,20) independent of each other and the back plate (16), or thefurther steps of (a) associating a pinion gear (67) with the wedge rings(18,20), and (b) using the pinion gear (67) to change the angle ofspindle (12).

The method may comprise the further step of providing indicia (48,48 a)on at least two of the at least two wedge rings (18,20) whereby theexact angle of an axis (26) of the spindle (12) relative to a plane (28)of the back plate (16) can be determined from the indicia.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side elevational view of a spindle assembly of theinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an elevational view of the assembly from the spindleend.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of a spindle assembly of theinvention taken along the line 3—3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top plan view cross sectional view of a spindleassembly of the invention along the line 4—4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side sectional view of a spindle assembly takenalong the line 5—5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing the spindle in 6° positiveposition.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing the spindle in 6° negativeposition.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, detached, exploded view of the wedge rings of thespindle assembly.

FIG. 9 is an end view of the spindle plate wedge ring showing theindicia.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the spindle assembly.

FIG. 11 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 5 showing an alternativeembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The spindle invention is designed to provide angle adjustments inwhatever degree increments are desired for testing, e.g. 0.05 degrees,and is capable of substantially an infinite number of angle adjustments.The spindle assembly is composed of four principle parts, the spindlesection, at least two wedge rings, and an axle section. Rotating thewedge rings causes the spindle to move in a vertical or horizontal planeto whatever angle is required for testing. The inventor has illustratedembodiments of a passenger tire spindle which uses three degree wedgerings for a plus or minus 6 degrees of adjustment, and has developed atruck tire spindle embodiment, using the same principles, which uses oneand one-half degree wedge rings for a plus or minus 3 degree adjustment.

The spindle assembly of the invention is designed and illustratedspecifically for use with testing equipment, but those skilled in theart will recognize that the spindle assembly can be used on vehicleswhere quick adjustment of the camber angle is desirable, for example onrace cars.

With reference now to FIGS. 1-10, a spindle assembly 10 of the inventionis illustrated. The spindle 12 is integrally connected to spindle plate14, and spindle plate 14 is bolted to back plate 16 which is connectedto the axle assembly 17. In the illustrated embodiment, eight bolts 30having washers 32 with a spherical portion 54 are used together withnuts 34 to tightly connect back plate 16 to spindle plate 14. Thespherical portion 54 of washers 32 facilitates the different anglesencountered between the back plate 16 and spindle plate 14 when theangle of the spindle is adjusted, since substantially even pressure isexerted by washers 32 regardless of the angle of spindle 12.

At least two wedge rings may be interposed between the back plate 16 andthe spindle plate 14 to vary the angle of spindle 12 with respect to theaxle assembly 17, and especially with respect to the plane 28 of backplate 16. At least two wedge rings are needed to vary the angle of thespindle according to the invention, but additional rings may be added toprovide more control to changing the angles, provide multiple planes ofadjustment, or to improve the accuracy of the angles achieved.

In the illustrated embodiment a first wedge ring 18 and a second wedgering 20 are interposed between back plate 16 and spindle plate 14. Eachof the wedge rings, 18,20, has a wider portion 22,22 a and a narrowerportion 24,24 a. When a narrower portion 24 of the first wedge ring 18is adjacent to wider portion 22 a of second wedge ring 20, the axis 26of spindle 12 will be perpendicular to plane 28 of back plate 16.Conversely, when narrower portion 24 of first wedge ring 18 is adjacentto narrower portion 24 a of second wedge ring 20, as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, the maximum angle of the spindle will be seen, theposition of the narrower portions 24,24 a determining whether the anglewill be positive or negative.

With reference now to FIGS. 8 and 9, a first wedge ring 18 is providedwith a boss 36 which is adapted to engage register 38 of a second wedgering 20. Wedge rings 18,20 have a wider portion 22,22 a and a narrowerportion 24,24 a, and a back plate side 44,44 a and a spindle plate side46,46 a. By “back plate side”, it is meant that when the rings areinstalled between back plate 16 and spindle plate 14, the back plateside 44,44 a is installed toward back plate 16. Likewise, “spindle plateside” means that spindle plate sides 46,46 a are oriented toward spindleplate 14 when wedge rings 18 and 20 are installed between back plate 16and spindle plate 14.

Wedge rings 18 and 20 have an outside surface 40,40 a and an insidesurface 41,41 a. Indicia 48 is located on the back plate side 44 ofwedge ring 18, and indicia 48 a is located on the spindle plate side 46a of wedge ring 20. Rotating means 50,50 a are used to turn the wedgerings when nuts 34 are loosened on bolts 30.

When incorporated in spindle assembly 10, the inside surface 41 a ofwedge ring 20 rests on shoulder 13 of spindle plate 14, and the insidesurface 41 of wedge ring 18 rests on shoulder 15 of back plate 16.Shoulders 13,15 stabilize wedge rings 18,20 in the assembly, andtogether with boss 36 and register 38, which provide an interlockingrelationship between wedge rings 18 and 20, insure that the anglesindicated by indicia 48,48 a are consistent as the angles of spindle 12are changed back and forth.

In the illustrated embodiment, rotating means 50,50 a are leversprojecting from the outside surface 40,40 a of the wedge rings 18,20,which can be used to provide leverage for turning a wedge ring when achange of camber angle for the spindle is desired. Other means ofturning the wedge rings will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the illustrated embodiment, the outside surfaces 40,40 a form a90-degree angle with the back plate side 44 of wedge ring 18, and a90-degree angle with the spindle plate side 46 a of wedge ring 20. Thecenter of the wedge ring is determined by measuring the center of theangled face 46 of wedge ring 18, and the angled face 44 a of wedge ring20. Determining the center of wedge ring 18,20 on the angled face placesthe axis point 47,47 a on the angled side of the wedge ring. Thus, whenwedge ring 18 and wedge ring 20 are interposed between back plate 16 andspindle plate 14, the axis points 47,47 a of the two wedge rings arecontiguous with each other.

The inventor has found that when the wedge rings are made such that theaxis points 47,47 a are on opposite sides of the wedge rings, away fromeach other in spindle assembly 10, the two axis points, being separatedby the total width of the wedge rings, may create an oscillation in therotation of the spindle. The invention has been found to be operablewith these two separated axis points, however, when a shoe 52 is placedin the axis assembly 17, to dampen or eliminate the oscillation.

Shoe 52 is flat on spindle plate side 53, and square boss 61 on spindleplate 14 fits into register 62 of shoe 52 in spindle assembly 10. Backplate side 51 of shoe 52 is curved, to permit changing angles in thevertical plane without binding the spindle assembly 10.

The shoe 52 also allows for multiple planes of motion when an additionalpair of wedge rings are used. The shoe 52 moves within the axis assembly17 on curved back plate side 51 to allow one plane of motion, and theboss 61 on the wedge ring side of the spindle plate 14 is free to movewithin register 62 on the inside of the shoe 52 to allow the other planeof motion.

In the implementation of the invention, to vary the angle of thespindle, nuts 34 on bolts 30 are loosened sufficiently to permitmovement or rotation of wedge rings 18 and 20, and rotation means 50,50a on the wedge rings 18,20 provide leverage for turning the rings. Marksare provided on the back plate 16 and the spindle plate 14 which areused for aligning indicia 48,48 a for the desired angle. In theillustrated embodiment, if 2.5 degrees is the desired angle of thespindle, the indicia of wedge ring 18 is placed at the mark on the backplate 16 to read 2.5 degrees and the indicia 48 a on wedge ring 20 isplaced at the mark on the spindle plate 14 to read 2.5 degrees. Nuts 34are then tightened on bolts 30 until the spindle assembly is secure.Spherical portion 54 of washers 32 accommodate the change in angle byproviding consistent contact throughout the perimeter of bore holes 31in the back plate 16 and spindle plate 14, regardless of the angle ofadjustment.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that other systems withdifferent indicia arrangements can be used to obtain the desired angles.

With reference now to FIG. 11, in an alternative embodiment, bearings59, such as ball bearings or roller bearings, may be mounted in wedgerings 18 and 20 to simplify and make easier rotation of the wedge ringsto the desired location. An additional stabilizing plate 33 can be usedto make possible changing the spindle angles without loosening bolts 30.The stabilizing plate 33 remains parallel to the spindle plate when theangle of spindle 12 is changed. Accordingly, when the angle of spindleplate 14 is changed, stabilizing plate 33 moves against surface 19 ofaxle assembly 17. Assuming the back plate remains stationary (attachedto the axle), when the widest part of the wedges are rotated to the topof assembly 10, this would cause the spindle to turn down. When thewidest part of the wedges are at the top, the top cross-section widthbecomes greater, and the resulting cross-section at the bottom ofassembly 10 becomes narrower. When both wedge rings are rotated at thesame time, the total cross section width of the wedge rings at angulardisplacement locations of 90° and 270° from the top of the spindleassembly 10 remain equal to each other. When the widest part of thewedges are at the top of assembly 10, this normally requires nuts 34 tobe loosened to allow for the increase in cross section width.Conversely, the nuts 34 at the bottom of assembly 10 would have to betightened to allow for the decrease in cross section width. Thestabilizing plate 33 being free to move against surface 19 and remainingparallel to spindle plate 14 keeps the distance contained by bolt 30 andnut 34 constant throughout the angle adjustment of spindle 12. Thisarrangement makes it unnecessary to loosen or tighten the bolts as thewedge rings 18,20 are moved. It is necessary that the dimension 56 and57 (the horizontal distance between the washer pivots 58 and the platepivots 59,60) be the same for both plates to keep the “bolt length”equal. The radius from the plate pivot 59,60 to each of the washerpivots 58 would then be equal by design. Conical spring washers maystill be required under the bolt head, or similar mechanicalarrangements be made, to make up any slight irregularities and makeallowances for wear, and to maintain the pre-load on the bearings. Thetwo wedge rings would need to be coupled so that they move an equaldistance simultaneously in opposite directions. This can be accomplishedby using a pinion gear 67 on the centerline between the two wedge rings18,20, and in mesh with gear teeth 68 of both wedge rings 18,20.

As illustrated above, spindle assembly 10 is designed primarily forangle adjustments in the vertical plane, i.e. ±6 degrees vertical (i.e.perpendicular to the contact testing surface of a wheel mounted onspindle 12). It is contemplated by the inventor that at least twoadditional wedge rings can be added to the assembly to vary the spindleangle in the horizontal plane, functioning in the same manner as wedgerings 18,20, but having an angular displacement of 90° as compared tothe orientation of wedge rings 18,20. As discussed above, the dimensionsof shoe 52 will permit movement of boss 61 in register 62 of shoe 52 topermit such angular displacement.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable spindle assembly (10) comprising aspindle (12) and a spindle plate (14) attached to a back plate (16),said spindle plate (14) and back plate (16) having interposed therebetween at least two wedge rings (18,20), said wedge rings (18,20)having a wider portion (22,22 a) and a narrower portion (24,24 a). 2.The spindle assembly (10) of claim 1 wherein when a narrower portion(24) of said wedge ring (18) is adjacent to wider portion (22 a) of saidwedge ring (20), an axis (26) of said spindle (12) is normal to a plane(28) of said back plate (16).
 3. The spindle assembly (10) of claim 1wherein said back plate (16) and said spindle plate (14) are attached toeach other by a plurality of bolts (30) and said at least two interposedwedge rings (18,20) are free to rotate relative to said spindle plate(14) and said back plate (16) when said bolts (30) are not tightened. 4.The spindle assembly (10) of claim 1 which is adapted to vary the angleof an axis (26) of said spindle (12) relative to a plane (28) of saidback plate (16) by rotating said at least two wedge rings (18,20)relative to each other and to said back plate (16).
 5. The assembly ofclaim 4 wherein washers (32) used with bolts (30), and nuts (34) on saidbolts (30) have a portion of a sphere (54) to accommodate a plurality ofangles.
 6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least two wedge rings(18,20) are adapted to interlock with each other circumferentially,permitting rotation relative to one another while maintaining theircircumferential relationship to said back plate (16).
 7. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein said at least two wedge rings (18,20) each have anoutside surface (40,40 a) corresponding to its outside diameter and aninside surface (41,41 a) corresponding to its inside diameter, and aback plate side (44,44 a) oriented toward said back plate (16) and aspindle plate side (46,46 a) oriented toward said spindle (12), and insaid assembly (10) in said wedge ring (18) closest to said back plate(16) said back plate side (44) forms a ninety degree (90°) angle withsaid outside surface (40), and in said wedge ring (20) closest to saidspindle plate (14) said spindle plate side (46 a) forms a ninety degreeangle with said outside surface (40 a).
 8. The assembly of claim 1wherein said at least two wedge rings (18,20) are marked with indicia(48,48 a) whereby an angle of the axis (26) of said spindle (12)relative to a plane (28) of said back plate (16) can be determined bysaid indicia.
 9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein bearings (56) areinterposed between said spindle plate (14) and said wedge ring (20), andbetween said wedge rings (18,20), and between said wedge ring (18) andsaid back plate (16).
 10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein a pinion gear(67) is associated with said wedge rings (18,20) for rotating said wedgerings.
 11. A method for varying a camber angle of a spindle having aspindle plate comprising the steps of interposing at least two wedgerings between said spindle plate and a back plate in a spindle assembly,wherein at least two of said at least two wedge rings (18,20) have awider portion and a narrower portion.
 12. The method of claim 11comprising the further steps of (a) releasing tension between said backplate and said spindle plate in a spindle assembly, (b) rotating atleast two of said at least two wedge rings independent of each other andsaid back plate.
 13. The method of claim 11 comprising the further stepsof (a) associating a pinion gear with said wedge rings, and (b) usingsaid pinion gear to change said angle of spindle.
 14. The method ofclaim 11 comprising the further step of providing indicia on at leasttwo of said at least two wedge rings whereby an exact angle of an axisof said spindle relative to a plane of said back plate can be determinedfrom said indicia.